Janet Hamilton
Janet Hamilton (1795-1873) was a Scottish poet and writer known for her contributions to literature that reflect the social issues of her time. Born in Shotts, Lanarkshire, she grew up in a working-class family and received little formal education, although her mother taught her to read at a young age. Hamilton married at fourteen and became a mother of ten, yet she developed a passion for reading that led her to dictate poetry to her husband before learning to write at the age of fifty-four.
Her writing, often featured in the magazine *The Working Man’s Friend*, showcased her use of Scots vernacular, earning her recognition as both a nationalist and an advocate for the working class. Hamilton's poetry frequently addressed themes related to social justice, including support for women's education and critiques of English imperialism. Despite losing her sight in later life, she continued to write prolifically, producing works that captured the essence of her experiences and the rapidly industrializing society around her. Hamilton's legacy includes her poignant "grannie poems," which are cherished for their oral tradition and cultural significance, providing valuable insights into the life and struggles of her community. Her achievements in literature highlight the resilience and creativity of a blind, working-class mother navigating the challenges of her era.
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Subject Terms
Janet Hamilton
Poet
- Born: October 14, 1795
- Birthplace: Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died: November 1, 1873
- Place of death: Langloan, Scotland
Biography
Janet Hamilton was born in on October 14,1795, in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to May and James Thomson. Her father was a shoemaker; however, the family moved to Lanloan, Coatbridge, where her parents worked as laborers and young Janet kept house and spun yarn. She received no formal education, but her mother taught her to read when she was five. In 1809, Janet married John Hamilton; she had the first of their ten children when she was fourteen.
An avid reader, Hamilton worked her way through every available book in their small village. Her husband was apparently very proud of her reading and writing. Because Hamilton had not learned to write when she learned to read, her husband wrote her early poetry from dictation. At fifty-four, Hamilton taught herself to write, and it was then that she began composing the poems and essays that brought her fame. She wrote about Scotland and social issues, increasingly incorporating Scottish dialect. Much of her work was published in a magazine called The Working Man’s Friend. She lost her sight when she was about sixty, and her son James became her amanuensis.
Poems and Essays of a Miscellaneous Character on Subjects of General Interest, her first book, appeared in 1863. Surprisingly, given its colloquial flavor, the book was well reviewed in both Scotland and London. Hamilton wrote her verses in the Scots vernacular (what she called “Doric”), establishing herself as both a nationalist and an advocate of the working classes. Indeed, Hamilton was often compared to Robert Burns. Her second book appeared two years later. Hamilton’s third book, Poems and Ballads, was published in 1868, and her complete works appeared after her death on November 1, 1873.
Hamilton is perhaps best remembered as the writer of ballads in an oral tradition. These poems are sometimes classified as her “grannie poems.” These poems, based on Hamilton’s relationship with her grandmother, feature a grandmother who shares with her granddaughter the songs, tales, and memories of her life.
Over the years, Hamilton’s writing became increasingly political; her social commentary ranged from support for the temperance movement and women’s education to strong disapproval of abusive husbands and English imperialism. Coatbridge, at the center of rapid industrialization during Hamilton’s lifetime, became a dirty, crowded place, its population quadrupling in thirty years. This change became a frequent subject in Hamilton’s writing in poems such as “Our Local Scenery.”
Hamilton’s achievements as a writer were many. Her work captured both the heart and spirit of her time, a remarkable accomplishment for a blind, working-class mother of ten. Her work provides contemporary scholars with a glimpse into a culture that would otherwise be lost.